[Idyllchat] train passes

[Jay Cloidt]

Generally, the way it works is you can buy a 1st class ticket, but that
doesn't guarantee you a seat. Just the right to travel in the 1st class
carriage. With a 1st class ticket, you can sit in any open seat in 1st
class. You need to make a reservation which has an additional fee, to
guarantee a seat. Reservations are really only needed on very popular
routes. The exception is the EuroStar trains. They are 100% reservation for
both classes. But the reservation is included when you purchase your ticket
because of this. Be aware that if you are on a EuroStar train that you have
assigned seats, and they will be indicated on your ticket/boarding pass.
This also means you can't just walk onto a EuroStar train with a train pass.
You need to make a reservation, and get a boarding pass. Depending on the
type of train pass you have, you may need to pay a supplement.

>
> In Italy, there are some major routes which are very busy, and it pays to
> get a reservation. These routes tend to be quite long however, so if you
> failed to get a reservation, one of the things you can do is this:  many of
> the trains have little cabins with 6 seats in them (the newer EuroStar
> trains have a more open floorplan, but they have assigned seats so this
> doesn't apply). In the hallway outside the cabin are little cards in a
> holder next to the door to the cabin. These indicate reservations for those
> seats. If there is no card in the holder, there is no reservation. If you
> look at the card, it also indicates the reservation is from say Florence to
> Bologna. If you are going from Rome to Florence, you can sit in that cabin
> so long as you vacate it for the reservation holders when they board. The
> Italians all know this trick, but if you are on a train in Italy in the
> summer when they are flooded with American tourists, it may get you a seat.
> I've only traveled on one of the newer trains that wasn't a EuroStar train
> once. I can't remember if they had reservation markers anywhere, but I think
> they did.
>
> If you do have a reservation, your name should be on that little card.
> Don't freak out if someone is in you seat; they may be pulling this trick.
> Just politely indicate that you have a reservation, and they will most
> likely get up and give you your seat with no hassles. If it does become a
> problem, just track down a conductor, and he or she will sort it out.
>
> It's been 2 years since I took a train in Europe, so if they have a newer
> system, I'm sure someone will correct me.
>
>   - Jay
>
> On 3/29/07, pandjking at sbcglobal.net <pandjking at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> >
> >  We have been to Switzerland 4 times now and have always had a second
> > class pass.  It has worked fine for us, but if you are taking a long trip,
> > you can up-grade to 1st and get nicer seating.  For local travel, 2nd class
> > is perfectly fine.
> >     For long trips, you must reserve your seats in addition to buying a
> > 1st class ticket.
> >     I believe I have this right, but other Untourists will correct me if
> > I am wrong.
> >     In short, our preference is to go 2nd class almost all the time.
> >     Phil King
> >     Spring Lake, MI.
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> >  *From:* scarlet3 at comcast.net
> > *To:* idyllchat at lists.untours.com
> > *Sent:* Thursday, March 29, 2007 10:35 AM
> > *Subject:* [Idyllchat] train passes
> >
> > Is there any benefit for getting a 1st class Swiss rail pass over a 2nd
> > class pass?
> >
> > ------------------------------
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